Back by popular demand, the general all-things Road forum!
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Hawkwood
- Posts: 334
- Joined: Tue Apr 07, 2009 4:27 pm
by Hawkwood on Wed May 13, 2015 4:37 pm
Valbrona wrote:Rapha doesn't have many fans. It's not a hate campaign. The older and wiser cyclist can spot overpriced products and Mickey Mouse marketing. Rapha sell a range of goods. They make nothing themselves but outsource all their production.
Etxe Ondo = quality materials, wide product range, different fits (on some tops), good pricing, all made in the same factory by the same people so you get continuity in sizing, long history of involvement with pro cycling teams ... and no Mickey Mouse marketing.
I was out cycling with an `older and wiser' and actually extremely fit cyclist last year, and he was wearing Rapha bib-shorts. I asked him for his opinion, he said he'd tried various makes and Assos had been his favourites, until he discovered Rapha which he thought were extremely well made and very comfortable, so much so that his Assos ones were languishing in a cupboard.
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Svetty
- Posts: 539
- Joined: Thu Mar 26, 2009 11:06 pm
- Location: Yorkshire - God's Own Country
by Svetty on Wed May 13, 2015 5:15 pm
Valbrona wrote:Rapha doesn't have many fans. It's not a hate campaign. The older and wiser cyclist can spot overpriced products and Mickey Mouse marketing. Rapha sell a range of goods. They make nothing themselves but outsource all their production.
Etxe Ondo = quality materials, wide product range, different fits (on some tops), good pricing, all made in the same factory by the same people so you get continuity in sizing, long history of involvement with pro cycling teams ... and no Mickey Mouse marketing.
I don't think Rapha are in business to make 'fans' but to sell products to paying customers. As they remain in business I imagine they are reasonably successful in achieving this.
Your posting reeks of prejudice without a shred of a grounding in facts. Incidentally, I have never owned, bought or worn Rapha so am not qualified to comment on their fit, function, comfort or value.......
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ichobi
- Posts: 1793
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by ichobi on Wed May 13, 2015 5:46 pm
Not so sure why it matters where the product is made if the quality is there?
Rapha kits are of good quality. They offer free repair (how many companies offer this?). Their advertising can come across in a wrong way at times, but have you ever worn their kit? I'd say it's as good as anything out there on the market. The fit may not suit everybody, but so do other brands. I like mine as much as castelli and cuore.
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spdntrxi
- Posts: 5782
- Joined: Sat Jul 20, 2013 6:11 pm
by spdntrxi on Wed May 13, 2015 6:11 pm
I love rapha pro team.. Bibs are outstanding the current padding works for me.. Their older models not so much. I love the short or lack of a collar in their pro team jerseys too..
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TMz
- Posts: 19
- Joined: Sat May 09, 2015 8:52 am
by TMz on Wed May 13, 2015 10:29 pm
Rapha isn't elitist, it's sophisticated and well engineered, the attraction to it is that it's pretty much everything that cycling kit has failed to be over the years... And now we see a huge amount of imitators trying to cash in on the style they pioneered.
The weekend warriors out in full team sky kit (even worse the non-rapha replica team sky kit) are about the most offensive breed of cyclist.
I find the quality and fit of rapha kit great, I got a fair bit of mine from a sample sale when they moved premises but would pay full price (if I had the disposable income) knowing I was getting a great product.
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mdeth1313
- Posts: 2066
- Joined: Sat Apr 22, 2006 12:38 am
- Location: Dutchess County, NY
by mdeth1313 on Wed May 13, 2015 10:53 pm
Bib shorts are such a personal choice it really doesn't matter. I remember trying assos and thinking they were the greatest thing until I found some demarchi contour evo bibs. They were great until I tried desoto 400 mile bibs and (most recently) I've found sportful total comfort bibs to work the best for me. All of this happened over the course of 7-8 years.
It's tough to find what works without spending a decent amount of money. I could care less if you love your assos, etxeondo, rapha, whatever you choose, but I can't understand trashing one brand because it doesn't work for you. I still have a pair of etxeondo bibs, I don't use them for longer rides because they don't work that well for me. They are well made, however. Assos never really worked for me, I found that out after trying other brands.
Good luck figuring it out!
Speedplay is the devil!
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kgt
- Posts: 8749
- Joined: Sun Jun 18, 2006 10:29 am
- Location: Athens, Greece
by kgt on Thu May 14, 2015 10:37 am
agree with mdeth1313. You have to try in order to see what is best for you. That has little to do with the brand.
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Lafolie
- Posts: 662
- Joined: Tue Sep 08, 2009 10:12 pm
by Lafolie on Sat Jun 06, 2015 9:31 pm
Well......after getting both for me the Etxeondo bib shorts win hands down. Better quality materials used. The cut and attention to detail is superb. The logos are actually stitched into the fabric and the chamois is super comfortable. As for the Rapha bibs, the best part is the chamois. The materials are not as high quality as the Attaque, the straps are not as comfortable and the logos are ironed on. Just not in the same league. Anyhow, it's been fun checking them out!
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Hawkwood
- Posts: 334
- Joined: Tue Apr 07, 2009 4:27 pm
by Hawkwood on Sat Jun 06, 2015 11:55 pm
Whereas: `Francisco Rodrigo, owner and founder of ETXEONDO, originally started his career working in a sublimation workshop on top brands created by high end fashion designers, now known worldwide such as Dior or Balenciaga.'!
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guyc
- Posts: 1742
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- Location: Hampshire, England
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Contact:
by guyc on Sun Jun 07, 2015 8:24 am
Valbrona wrote:Rapha doesn't have many fans. It's not a hate campaign. The older and wiser cyclist can spot overpriced products and Mickey Mouse marketing. Rapha sell a range of goods. They make nothing themselves but outsource all their production.
What a crock of absolute shit.
To the OP - buy and wear what fits and that
you like. Ignore the drivel above.